Nate Leads Balanced Attack in Win Over Nets

Nate Robinson made the most of his opportunity after being inserted into the starting lineup. NBAE/Getty Images

“The theory is that I wanted to look at the big lineup and I can’t do it if (Chris) Duhon is in and Nate’s out and by the time Duhon gets tired Nate’s ready to come in,” D’Antoni said. “We’re always going to have little guys when we want big guys on the floor all together. That’s mainly it.”  

The 5-foot-9 Robinson scored 15 points and dished out three assists to help lead the Knicks to their second win of the exhibition season. He made his first start of the preseason alongside Duhon in the backcourt. Wilson Chandler, Jared Jeffries and David Lee rounded out the frontcourt.   

Robinson is averaging 10.8 points per game through four preseason games, which ranks fourth on the team. But just because he continues to play well doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be a starter on opening day. D’Antoni thinks there are more than five players deserving of a starting spot on the team. 

“I just think we have eight guys - even nine guys now - who are very interchangeable and we have to see what works,” D’Antoni said. “It might even be what works against certain teams and certain lineups might be better for other teams. I want guys to be comfortable whether they start or whether they don’t start. I don’t think they’ll have beef one way or the other.”   

As planned, D’Antoni played several big lineups throughout the night, including one that featured four players 6-8 or taller - Jeffries, Lee, Chandler, Duhon and Danilo Gallinari. D’Antoni hopes to have his starting lineup and rotation set by Tuesday when the Knicks host the Boston Celtics.   

Al Harrington, who started at power forward in the first three preseason games and is averaging a team-high 18 points per game, sat out with a bruised left knee. He suffered the setback after Thursday’s practice while working out 1-on-1 against rookie Jordan Hill. The injury doesn’t seem to be serious and he should be ready to go against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Sunday.   

With their leading scorer out, the Knicks used a balanced attack to pull away from the Nets for the second time in as many weeks. Lee led five players in double figures with 20 points. Chandler had 16, while Gallinari and rookie Toney Douglas added 10 apiece.   

“It’s funny when one guy starts to make shots, then the others will start,” D’Antoni said. “It’s like foul shots. It’s all contagious.”   

Game Notes: Rookie Marcus Landry drained two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with six points… Lee, playing against a Nets frontline that has two 7-footers, pulled down 14 rebounds in three quarters… Chandler had eight boards… Center Darko Milicic has blocked a shot in three of the four preseason games.   

Eddy Curry Update   

Eddy Curry, out since early in training camp, has been working out twice a day to get back into basketball shape and return to the court sometime in the near future.    

“I don’t know when, but I do know he’s been working really hard,” D’Antoni said. “Everyday at practice he’s getting better because he’s been working hard. I do know he’s working out twice a day, and he’s again been putting in a lot of effort to try to get back as soon as he can.”   

The Knicks don’t want to rush Curry back to the court until he’s 100 percent ready.   

“We don’t want him hurting something else,” D’Antoni said. “That’s what happened last year. We kept pushing him to go and he kept breaking down. We don’t want to do that this year.”   

D’Antoni doesn’t know if Curry will return before the preseason ends next Wednesday. “We’ll see,” he said.